Chapter 246

Shanley didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on the live security feed.
Kurt’s suspicion hardened into certainty. Juniper was J. If that was true, then the person in that burning wreck… was Juniper. If something happened to her, how could he ever face Shanley?
“Someone, get in here!” Kurt could no longer remain calm. He screamed for the doctor, his face a mask of terror. “Take me to the track, now!”
Soon, news that the legendary J had returned after three years only to perish on the racetrack shot to the top of every news outlet.
At Aurora High School, Qadir and the other boys in class were inconsolable, their sobs echoing through the halls. Someone even suggested they pool their money to buy offerings for J’s memorial.
Meanwhile, at the F1 circuit, the other drivers had crossed the finish line. The race was officially over. Everyone stared at the burning wreckage, their brows furrowed. From their vantage point, it looked as though the rear wheels of J’s car hadn’t fully cleared the finish line. If that was the case, J might have sacrificed the life for nothing, failing to secure Orient Country’s qualification. That meant Yalania Country had successfully placed in the top five, defeating Orient Country.
The race would surely go down in history, but for all the wrong reasons. The legend of the racing world had changed. There would be no more drivers from Orient Country on the international F1 stage.
The event was hosted in Orient Country, and over ninety percent of the audience were locals. Their elation at J’s appearance had turned into profound grief. Orient Country had lost not just its spot in F1, but also its most brilliant driver. Had they known this would be the outcome, they would have preferred J never showed up. At least then, with J still out there somewhere, there would have been hope for Orient Country’s racing program to one day rise again. But now… it was all over.
Melvin stood frozen, the empty fire extinguisher still in his hand, his body covered in ash. He stared blankly at the flames, a crushing sense of helplessness washing over him.
“We won,” one of the Yalania drivers said, a victorious smile spreading across his face as he watched J’s funeral pyre. This race had not only eliminated a rival country but had also taken out
the very driver who
had once crushed their country’s
pride. Finally, they had their revenge.
On the highway, Shanley had pushed Flint aside and taken the wheel himself. He
floored the accelerator, the car moving so fast it became a blur.
Flint clutched his seatbelt, his heart pounding in his chest. In all his years working for his boss he had never been in a car moving this fast it felt like his soul couldn’t keep up with his body.
“Boss, the fire is starting to die
down,” Felton reported, holdinganet
tablet with a live feed. His voice was laced with dread. “There’s sto
sign of… Ms. Payne.”
The fire had raged for a full five minutes. For Ms. Payne to still be missing… the outlook was grim. He didn’t dare say the words out loud.
“Juniper is fine,” Shanley’s voice was firm, but his handsome face was drained of all color, as pale as paper. His hands trembled on the steering wheel.
Felton and Flint exchanged a worried glance. They couldn’t imagine what would happen to their boss if Ms. Payne had truly perished in the flames.
Just then, the announcer’s shocked voice blared from the tablet: “Look! Is that J?”
Shanley snatched the tablet, his bloodshot eyes locking onto the screen. He saw…